Shrouding the Heavens - Chapter 51: A day apart seems like three years

“Duty before heart,” Ashleigh replied firmly.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means I will do my job. But Caleb is just my duty, you are my heart.”

***

Two men, two distinct feelings of attraction and trust.

Ashleigh struggles to understand the feelings in her heart. Torn between the man she has loved for the past two years and the cold Alpha of an enemy pack, can Ashleigh figure out which of these men she truly wants to be mated to?

Does she really have a choice?

She is the daughter of Alpha Wyatt of Winter, the largest of the four Werewolf Packs. For two years she has eagerly awaited her eighteenth birthday so she can finally be married and mated to her love, Granger. But just before that magical day she runs into a significant problem: she finds herself bonded to another wolf.

Her fated bond happens to be Alpha Caleb of Summer, the man whose father was supposedly murdered by one of her own.

As if that wasn’t enough, every pack is suddenly reporting attacks from rogue wolves. Now Ashleigh is faced not only with a war in her heart, but one in real life.

Will they be able to work together, putting aside all their heart ache and pain to keep their packs safe from the enemy that threatens them all? Or will this love eventually become their downfall?

Japan – National News BroadcastThe polished news anchor sat upright, her gaze sharp as she adjusted the stack of papers before her. The newsroom behind her hummed with quiet urgency, the weight of the moment settling over the broadcast.“Authorities are baffled by a sudden and unexplained surge in sleep-related deaths across Japan,” she began, her voice steady yet tense. “More and more citizens are passing away in their sleep without any prior health concerns. Experts are working tirelessly to determine the cause, but no clear explanation has emerged. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and report any unusual symptoms before bedtime.”A graphic appeared, displaying the spike in fatalities over the past month. Behind her, unsettling photographs flickered across the screen—blurred images of individuals found in their beds, their faces frozen in expressions of terror.The anchor’s tone shifted. “Health officials recommend citizens avoid excessive fatigue and maintain healthy sleep habits. More updates will follow as investigations continue.”---United States – Paranormal PodcastIn a dimly lit podcast studio, the host leaned forward, his eyes wide with curiosity. Across from him, a rugged man in a worn flannel shirt, gripping a faded photograph in one hand and a beer can in the other, leaned back in his chair.“So, you're telling me you saw this creature firsthand?” the host asked, clearly intrigued.The man scoffed, shaking his head. “Damn right, I did. Ugly thing had wings bigger than my body—slow but sneaky. Thought it could steal my pigs again, but I was ready this time—camera in one hand, shotgun in the other.”He slammed the table for emphasis, then shoved the blurry image toward the host. The photograph depicted a small, red-skinned humanoid figure with large, bat-like wings, its eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.“Spit, the thing didn’t know what hit it when I fired!” the man chuckled, his voice full of excitement.The host held up the picture to the live chat. “Alright, what do you think? Mothman? Demon? Or is our friend here just seeing things?”The chat exploded with theories—some skeptical, others eager for the investigation to continue.---China – Liangyuan Street MarketSurveillance footage from a bustling night market in China captured a chilling scene. A woman in a red qipao walked gracefully through the crowd, her figure striking in the soft glow of lanterns.Suddenly, she paused. Her body flickered—like a glitch in a video—before vanishing completely, as though she had never existed.The footage zoomed in, replaying in slow motion. In the final frame before she disappeared, her face distorted unnaturally, her eyes hollow and empty.The screen cut abruptly to black.

What would you do if your planet ceased to exist after a nap?

Little screenwriter Gu Nian has a secret. She was a big fan of an 18th-tier actor by the name of Luo Xiu. Luo Xiu was good looking but his acting was awful. He had no work for 2 years, the one time that he was on a show, he was mocked to the point that even his own mother wouldn’t admit that he was her son. As such, he dropped straight to 18th tier. Gu Nian, on the other hand, was determined to become a gold medal screenwriter and had him be her dedicated male supporting character. ___ Luo Xiu had a loyal fan. Ever since his debut, she did everything that a fan would — wait for him at airports, vote for him online, and wave banners of his. Other fans would waver back and forth but this girl remained his loyal fan for two straight years. Once she was drunk after they have met each other, she patted him on his shoulder, cried and said, “Son, its okay that you are not backed by big bosses! When Mommy become a gold-medal screenwriter, I will back you!” Luo Xiu: “……” ___ After Gu Nian became a gold-medal screenwriter and signed her contract with a up-and-coming media company, she was summoned to a meeting at their office. She texted Luo Xiu outside of the conference room, “Son! Mommy can back you now! Just you wait!” Soon after she sent the message, she heard a notification chime coming from in front of her. Gu Nian looked up, puzzled, and saw a very familiar handsome face. The secretary introduced the two of them, “Miss Gu, this is our CEO, Luo Xiu.” Gu Nian: …..? Secretary: “Boss Luo, this is….” “No need for introduction, I know her.” Luo Xiu looked up after he finished reading the text. His eyes a dark black color. “This is the boss who has been backing me behind the scene.” Everyone: ….? ? ?